Apr 292011
 

Just got back from a lovely vacation in Temecula . . . well, semi-lovely.  Turns out it’s not the greatest place for someone who has quit drinking alcohol.  Temecula is known for it’s vast arrays of wineries.  As a younger man, I have been there on several occasions and dabbled with a little wine tasting here and there.  It was a good experience back then, s0 I figured, what the heck, let’s go back again.  While I had a good time in Temecula, it was definitely a different kind of good time.

I do have a recommendation for all of you planning on visiting the wineries or spending time in Temecula. . . Don’t Drink and Drive!  Within the first 10 minutes of arriving in Temecula we saw 5 different cars pulled over by police officers and that was the theme of the trip.  Every time we left our hotel were cops pulling people over on the side of the road.  And not only at night, but at all hours of the day.  If you’re thinking about visiting the wineries in Temecula, make sure you have a designated driver, hop aboard a shuttle or take a limo. 

Temecula even has it’s own casino . . . well, Indian casino.  This indian casino has blown up in the past couple of years and has a wide array of table games and slot machines.  A true gambler’s paradise.  We didn’t do much gambling, but we did slip in a twenty and won two bucks . . . that’s a ten percent profit!

Overall, we had a great time visiting Temecula and would recommend it.  It was great to stop my training altogether the last couple of days and let my legs rest.  My brother and I are hoping that we’re ready for the Orange County Marathon, although, to be honest with you, neither of us is sure that we are.

Mar 312011
 

My brother and I will be participating in our first marathon in 30 days.  I’m not quite sure how my brother is preparing for the event, but I know that I am going to be devoting a large amount of time to running over the next 30 days.  I want to make sure that I can complete the full marathon running the entire way. 

When we ran the Rose Bowl Half Marathon in February, I completed the entire run, but knew that I would not have lasted any longer.  I actually thought about stopping at around the 11 mile mark, but was able to push through it to continue running.  I knew I only had 2 more miles to go to complete the half marathon.  But, I think mentally I would have stopped knowing that I would have had to run another 15 miles before I could stop. 

I’m excited but nervous about our upcoming marathon.  I know that I will not be as prepared as I would like to be, but I am going to try my best to get in the best shape I can by then.  I am officically starting my marathon training today and would love some company.  If anyone is interested in running daily with me I would be more than happy to have you along.